Tulsa County, Oklahoma
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Tulsa County, Oklahoma has a relatively high overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 98% of US counties. It ranks 2nd of 77 counties in Oklahoma. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $292 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $437 per resident. Since 1971 it has been included in 38 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (26 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (1,553 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $71 million on 3,822 claims here, including $31 million for floods in 1984.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Tulsa County
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
- Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 97.9 | $138M | ||
| Heat wave | 99.6 | $76M | ||
| Tornado | 99.1 | $37M | ||
| Strong wind | 99.4 | $11M | ||
| Cold wave | 94.3 | $10M | ||
| Hail | 98.4 | $7M | ||
| Ice storm | 99.7 | $6M | ||
| Earthquake | 89.9 | $5M | ||
| Wildfire | 91.3 | $1M | ||
| Lightning | 91.9 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 73.5 | $576K | ||
| Winter weather | 89.4 | $353K | ||
| Hurricane | 46.3 | $47K | ||
| Landslide | 68.7 | $5K |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Tulsa County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 38
Oklahoma also had 43 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1950
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 2,427 storm reports in Tulsa County since 1950, with 28 deaths and 464 injuries and about $711 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 24, 1993 near E Tulsa To 1 N.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 1993 | F4 | E Tulsa To 1 N | 100 / 7 |
| Jun 8, 1974 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 19, 1981 | F3 | – | 49 / 5 |
| Jun 8, 1974 | F3 | – | 70 / 2 |
| Apr 19, 1981 | F3 | – | 7 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 1981 | Tornado | – | $250M |
| Jun 17, 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wekiwa | $160M |
| Apr 5, 2005 | Hail | Jenks | $65M |
| Aug 6, 2017 | Tornado | Tulsa | $50M |
| Jun 8, 1974 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Jun 8, 1974 | Tornado | – | $25M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 11, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.
Flood insurance in Tulsa County
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Tulsa County
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 297,882 housing units.
Compare in Oklahoma
All 77 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma County | Inland flooding | |
| Tulsa County | Inland flooding | |
| Cleveland County | Inland flooding | |
| Canadian County | Inland flooding | |
| Comanche County | Inland flooding | |
| Rogers County | Inland flooding | |
| Payne County | Cold wave | |
| Wagoner County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Rogers County | 29 | |
| Wagoner County | 32 | |
| Creek County | 45 | |
| Washington County | 32 | |
| Osage County | 41 | |
| Okmulgee County | 38 | |
| Pawnee County | 34 |
Cities in Tulsa County
Common questions about Tulsa County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Tulsa County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Tulsa County, about $138 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $75.5 million.
How many federal disasters has Tulsa County had?
Tulsa County has been included in 38 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1971, including 26 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in July 2023.
Is Tulsa County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively High, 2nd highest of 77 in Oklahoma. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Tulsa County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Tulsa County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Tulsa County had?
NOAA records list 98 tornadoes in Tulsa County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 24, 1993 near E Tulsa To 1 N. The weather service has also logged 1,111 hail reports and 307 floods here.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.